Good desktop microphone that's decently priced?

G

grayprint

Weaksauce
Joined
Sep 26, 2007
Messages
90
It seems with desktop mics, you either have a choice of crappy $10 ones or 50$+ good ones. Are there any in between that's of good quality? I've had the logitech desk mic which was good but it died on me, the zalman clip on which is way too sensitive, and the antlion mic which you can attach to any headphone but the sound quality isn't very good.
 
Thanks for the suggestions! But they all seem to confirm my problem. All the mics listed were $50+. There were none in between 10-50.
 
grayprint said:
Thanks for the suggestions! But they all seem to confirm my problem. All the mics listed were $50+. There were none in between 10-50.
Click to expand...

I have an Antlion Modmic that works great and should be about $30, and can be paired with/attached to any pair of normal headphones. They've been having some issues keeping things in stock for a bit, which should hopefully be taken care of when the 4.0 comes out, but for now they might be hard to come by. Not sure.

It's a good option though if they have them available.

*I missed that you mentioned this in the OP. Meh. Mine sounded great. Not quite as good as my Yeti, but it actually sounded clearer than most people's Blue Snowball mics. I had the original Modmic though.
 
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The CAD U37 I listed is 45 on Amazon. I bought mine for $37 about a year ago, so I think it (they) may fluctuate a bit.
 
Yeah as both of them are pointing out, there's a decent selection of condensor mics out there for under $50. It shouldn't be hard to find people reviewing them on youtube to see what kind of sound quality you can get out of them.
 
Tripod -
(1) http://www.amazon.com/Slik-Mini-Pro...F8&qid=1391650702&sr=8-5&keywords=mini+tripod
(2) http://www.amazon.com/Pedco-UltraPo...F8&qid=1391650702&sr=8-6&keywords=mini+tripod

Piece to unite tripod and microphone together -
(1) http://www.amazon.com/EzFoto-threaded-Universal-HotShoe-adapter/dp/B007MYDWKW/ref=pd_sim_p_6

Microphone -
(1) http://www.amazon.com/Rode-VideoMic...d=1391650599&sr=8-1&keywords=microphone+rodeo

3.5mm extension (female to male) -
(1) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010CP5DY/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I don't think you'll need another mic again. You could also get a http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00380XPL0/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and mount the microphone to that using the hotshoe adapter + http://www.amazon.com/NEEWER®-Multi...=1391650970&sr=8-1&keywords=camera+mount+clip; this would give you the freedom to move the microphone around in free space (almost literally) for the best possible angle and location
 
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Cerulean said:
Tripod -
(1) http://www.amazon.com/Slik-Mini-Pro...F8&qid=1391650702&sr=8-5&keywords=mini+tripod
(2) http://www.amazon.com/Pedco-UltraPo...F8&qid=1391650702&sr=8-6&keywords=mini+tripod

Piece to unite tripod and microphone together -
(1) http://www.amazon.com/EzFoto-threaded-Universal-HotShoe-adapter/dp/B007MYDWKW/ref=pd_sim_p_6

Microphone -
(1) http://www.amazon.com/Rode-VideoMic...d=1391650599&sr=8-1&keywords=microphone+rodeo

3.5mm extension (female to male) -
(1) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010CP5DY/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I don't think you'll need another mic again. You could also get a http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00380XPL0/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and mount the microphone to that using the hotshoe adapter + http://www.amazon.com/NEEWER®-Multi...=1391650970&sr=8-1&keywords=camera+mount+clip; this would give you the freedom to move the microphone around in free space (almost literally) for the best possible angle and location
Click to expand...

Do shotgun mics really work as described? Like I have kids to my left and right being a pain in the ass and making noise, my buds shouldn't hear then unless they are in the cone?
 
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Thats what they are designed for. Longer the mic, the narrower the cone. They pick up noise behind you too, so you need to get the right angle.
 
So I've narrowed it down to the Blue snowball or CAD U37. I'm leaning more towards the CAD for some reason. Anyone who've used both have any input?
 
Hm, I'm interested in this as well. OP, are you using the mic for communication during gaming or?
 
Samson GoMic

I was in the same boat as well and didn't want to spend too much to upgrade my 6yr old Logitech USB mic and found this. This has all the functions and features of the more expensive condenser microphones like the Snowball and Yeti but it also folds up and fits in your coin pocket of your jeans if you need to take it to a Lan party.

This was meant for laptops to clamp on the monitor but you can also set it up to sit on your desk right behind your keyboard as well. I'm currently using a desktop boom stand so I can tilt it out of the way when I'm not using it. Best of luck choosing your mic.
 
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Pretty much using it for gaming (mumble, TS, etc). The snowball is $40 at amazon atm for those interested.
 
another vote for the antlion modmic, get the version 4.0 thats coming out soon. Your friends on TS / Mumble will thank you.
 
In general, are you better off with a USB mic or one with a 3.5mm plug for your soundcard?
 
Depends on your sound card; a ZXR's input will sound better than on-board. I would assume the USB off the snowflake would sound better than baseline on-board inputs.
 
doubletake said:
No, he wrote:
Click to expand...
meme-really.jpg
 
don't know if there sold separately but i love the creative beam forming mic that comes with the z cards
 
Cerulean said:
Tripod -
(1) http://www.amazon.com/Slik-Mini-Pro...F8&qid=1391650702&sr=8-5&keywords=mini+tripod
(2) http://www.amazon.com/Pedco-UltraPo...F8&qid=1391650702&sr=8-6&keywords=mini+tripod

Piece to unite tripod and microphone together -
(1) http://www.amazon.com/EzFoto-threaded-Universal-HotShoe-adapter/dp/B007MYDWKW/ref=pd_sim_p_6

Microphone -
(1) http://www.amazon.com/Rode-VideoMic...d=1391650599&sr=8-1&keywords=microphone+rodeo

3.5mm extension (female to male) -
(1) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010CP5DY/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I don't think you'll need another mic again. You could also get a http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00380XPL0/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and mount the microphone to that using the hotshoe adapter + http://www.amazon.com/NEEWER®-Multi...=1391650970&sr=8-1&keywords=camera+mount+clip; this would give you the freedom to move the microphone around in free space (almost literally) for the best possible angle and location
Click to expand...

I hate to bump a thread that's a few months old, but I have a decent question.

How am I powering the RODE mic if I use my PC?
 
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How good are these mics from keeping out ambient noise such as keyboards and mouse clicks...or your roommate screaming about sports in the other room?

Thinking of taking up a snowball and starting to stream.
 
tehgray said:
How good are these mics from keeping out ambient noise such as keyboards and mouse clicks...or your roommate screaming about sports in the other room?

Thinking of taking up a snowball and starting to stream.
Click to expand...

Actually I have tried most of the blue mics...they don't do a great job on ambient noises. That is why I am looking at these shotgun mics myself. They do sound great though.
 
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